PA Environment Digest

Share this:

Draft PA Greenhouse Gas Emission Inventory Shows Nearly 19% Reduction Between 2005 - 2016 From All Sectors

On December 10, DEP’s Climate Change Advisory Committee is scheduled to review an updated draft PA Greenhouse Gas Emission Inventory which shows there was a nearly 19 percent reduction in emissions between 2005 and 2016 from all sectors.

Emission reduction goals set by Gov. Wolf call for a reduction of 26 percent by 2025 and 80 percent by 2050 from 2005 levels. A further reduction of 20.87 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MMTCO2e) is required to reach the 2025 goal, and 177.17 MMTCO2e to reach the 2050 goal.

The Inventory was updated with 2016 data on greenhouse gas emissions.

The sectors with the largest contribution to the Commonwealth’s GHG emissions are the industrial, electricity production and transportation sectors.

The electricity production sector had its lowest-ever recorded annual GHG emissions in 2016. The industrial sector was the highest GHG producing sector in the state for the second year in a row in 2016.

The relative change for each of these sectors between 2005 and 2016 was a decrease of 11.75 MMTCO2e for the transportation sector, an increase of 0.68 MMTCO2e for the industrial sector, and a decrease of 40.47 MMTCO2e for the electricity production sector.

Together, these three sectors annually account for approximately 84 percent of Pennsylvania’s gross greenhouse gas emissions.

The draft Inventory shows the residential, and commercial sectors also experienced declines in GHG emissions during the time period from 2005 to 2016.

The residential, and commercial sectors had decreases in greenhouse gas emissions of 5.42, and 2.34 MMTCO2e, respectively, during this time period.

Greenhouse gas emissions from the agricultural sector have remained fairly steady during this time period, with a slight increase of 0.37 MMTCO2e between 2005 and 2016.

Greenhouse gas emissions from the waste management sector experienced a 0.74 MMTCO2e decrease from 2005 to 2016.

During this same period, the greenhouse gas emissions sequestered in the forest and land use sector have decreased by 5.11 MMTCO2e.

Click Here for DEP’s PPT presentation on the inventory. Click Here for a copy of the updated inventory report.

Also on the Committee agenda is--

-- Proposed Climate Action Plan Outreach Plan

-- Presentation on PA’s Statewide Active Transportation Plan by PennDOT

-- Discussion of 2021 Climate Action Plan Milestones and Scope

The meeting will be held in Room 105 of the Rachel Carson Building in Harrisburg starting at 10:00.

For more information and available handouts, visit the DEP Climate Change Advisory Committee webpage. Questions should be directed to Lindsay Byron by calling 17-772-8951 or send email to: lbyron@pa.gov.

NewsClips:

250+ PA Environment & Energy NewsClips Waiting For You To Read Them

Related Articles This Week:

Major Businesses, Higher Ed Institutions Write To Members Of House, Senate Urging Pennsylvania To Accelerate Transition To A Low-Carbon Economy

Columbia University Earth Institute Teams Up To Build Resilience In Johnstown, Cambria County

PA Social Studies Teacher Survey: 85.6% Believe Climate Change Is A Significant Issue For Human Society, But Many Aren’t Teaching It Because Of Political Controversy

Op-Ed: Extend Federal Renewable Energy Tax Credits

Youth #ClimateStrike To Hold Action Rally In Harrisburg Dec. 6

Related Articles - Climate Change PA:

Senate, House Members Announce Bills To Take Away DEP’s Authority To Adopt Any Greenhouse Gas Reduction Program; Offer No Alternative To Reduce Emissions

Citizens Advisory Council Hears Overview Of DEP’s Process To Develop A Market-Based Program To Reduce Carbon Dioxide Emissions To Address Climate Change Compatible With RGGI

EDF: 2 New Analyses Show Significant Benefits For Pennsylvania By Adopting RGGI-Compatible Greenhouse Gas Reduction Regulation On Power Plants